PsExec Network Connection

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PsExec Network Connection

Identifies use of the SysInternals tool PsExec.exe making a network connection. This could be an indication of lateral movement.

Rule indices:

winlogbeat-*

Severity: low

Risk score: 21

Runs every: 5 minutes

Searches indices from: now-6m (Date Math format, see also Additional look-back time)

Maximum signals per execution: 100

Tags:

Elastic
Windows

Rule version: 1

Added (Elastic Stack release): 7.6.0

Potential false positives

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PsExec is a dual-use tool that can be used for benign or malicious activity. It’s important to baseline your environment to determine the amount of noise to expect from this tool.

Rule query

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process.name:PsExec.exe and event.action:"Network connection detected
(rule: NetworkConnect)"

Threat mapping

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Framework: MITRE ATT&CK^TM

Tactic:
- Name: Execution
- ID: TA0002
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/
Technique:
- Name: Service Execution
- ID: T1035
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1035/
Tactic:
- Name: Lateral Movement
- ID: TA0008
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0008/
Technique:
- Name: Service Execution
- ID: T1035
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1035/

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